Can beading and parting machine



Oct. 12, 1965 E. LAXO CAN BEADING AND PARTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1962 INVENTOR.

BY g a 7 ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1965 E. LAXQ CAN BEADING AND PARTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1962 INVENTOR.

ED LAXO ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1965 E. LAXO 3,210,979

CAN BEADING AND PARTING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

E D L A XO BY 5% d2 6 @22 ATTORN EY Oct. 12, 1965 E. LAXO CAN BEADING AND PARTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 3, 1962 INV EN TOR.

ED LAXO BY film 14) K Q ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1965 E. LAXO 3,210,979

CAN BEADING AND PARTING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY 62W ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1965 E. LAXO 3,210,979

CAN BEADING AND PARTING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,210,979 CAN BEADING AND PARTING MACHINE Ed Laxo, 27690 Orlando Ave, Hayward, Califi; Thelma E. Laxo, executrix of said Ed Laxo, deceased, assignor to Thelma E. Laxo Filed May 3, 1962, Ser. No. 192,268 10 Claims. (CI. 7294) This invention relates to a can beading and parting machine and, more particularly, to a machine that may be set up selectively, with a minimum amount of adjustment, to perform either beading or severing operations on can bodies.

In order to secure maximum strength with the thinnest possible gauge metal, it is frequently desirable to bead the can bodies by impressing ribs around the circumference thereof. Also, in the manfacture of smaller can sizes, it has been found desirable to fabricate a can body of maximum length and then to divide or part the can body into two or more cylindrical can bodies. Though the operations are somewhat similar in nature, the parting operation has generally required a separate machine or, at best, a complex attachment to an existing beading machine and, as a consequence, the parting operation is not performed in many instances where it would otherwise be recommended.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a single machine that can readily be adapted to perform either beading or parting operations.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a beading machine that can readily be converted into a parting machine with a minimum amount of replacement parts.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine that may be adjusted selectively for beading or parting within close manufacturing tolerances.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a beading and parting machine that is economical to produce and simple to install and operate.

In carrying out this invention, I provide a turret on which can bodies are received, and in association therewith, I provide a series of slides which are mounted for reciprocation parallel to the axis of the turret so that work members thereon are carried into the can body to perform the desired operation. In combination with these slides, there is provided a beading attachment and a parting attachment, each of which may selectively be mounted on the slide, depending upon the operation it is desired to perform. Then, the appropriate die is moved into the can during rotation of the turret and, in conjunction with a complementary die on the machine, performs the desired operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description following when read in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in section of a machine embodying features of this invention as set up for beading operation;

parting knives taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a partial section view taken along line 77 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a partial section view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a partial section view taken along line 99 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the can body beading and parting portion of the machine is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and in association with it are a can body feed mechanism 12 and an exit chute 14 through which the can bodies are removed after operation of the machine 10. The feed mechanism 12 is supported on mounting bracket 15 and includes a feed screw 16 which moves can bodies along guide rails 17 toward a star wheel 18 which rotates about a shaft 19 to transfer the can bodies C to the turret 20 between gauge blocks or guide pins provided thereon. The feed screw 16 and a star wheel 18 are driven by suitable means (not shown) in timed relation to the turret so that as a pair of guide pins 21 each turretmounted cam retainer plate 21a are presented to the feed chute 20a a can is delivered thereto.

As the can bodies complete the circuit with the turret 20, being carried by the pins 21 and by the beading rolls 40 and 40a between the plates 21a around the can beader drum they are cammed by arcuate finger 30 toward the exit chute 14 and they are propelled along their way by discharge star Wheel 32 rotating in timed relation to the machine about shaft 33.

Now considering the machine 10 toward which this description is particularly directed, there is shown in FIG. 1 a cross-section of the driven beading rolls 40 and 40a which are adapted to move axially through openings 42 in the turret plates 20 and then extend into a can body from opposite open ends thereof to press the cylindrical surface of the can body against a stationary beading ring 44. The beading rolls 40 and 40a are driven by identical drive mechanism and, therefore, this description will be directed to just one of the drives.

The beading roll 40 is rotatably driven by a wide pinion 46 meshing with a stationary ring gear 48 which is fixed to the frame 11 of the machine 10. Also secured to the frame 11 of the machine, as by means of capscrews 49, is a stationary operating cam 50 having a track 52 traversed by a roller follower 54 to produce axial movement of the beading rollers as they revolve with the turntable 20 on the main drive shaft 56, as will hereinafter be described. The turrets 20 are keyed to the drive shaft 56 at 58 and bearings 59 are provided to permit the shaft 56 to rotate freely within the stationary cam 50.

The arcuate stationary complementary beading die 44 is mounted on a wheel or drum 60 fixed to the machine, and the hub 61 of the drum carries bushings 62 in which the shaft 56 is freely rotatable. The stationary beading die 44 is seated in the mounting drum 60 against the dovetail lip 63 along one circular edge thereof and held in place by means of an arcuate clamp 64 bolted to the other side of the drum by means of capscrews 65. The means for locking the beading ring mounting drum 60 in a stationary position is shown more clearly in FIG. 2 and comprises a foot-like retainer block 68 secured at 69 to the mounting drum or Wheel 60. The retainer block is, in turn, secured by capscrew 71 to the lock shoe 73 on some stationary part of the machine, such as the feed screw mounting bracket 15.

.As will hereinafter be described, the slides 82 are used during both beading and parting operations and only fixtures applied thereto are changed. For a beading operation on the can bodies the fixture installed includes a shoe 84 which engages on the slide 82 and is bolted into position by capscrews 85 which engage in slots 86 in the shoe 84 which permit lengthwise adjustment of the shoes so that beads in the driven beading rolls and 40a mate perfectly with those in the stationary arcuate beading die 44. The means for accomplishing this lengthwise adjustment comprises a retainerblock 88 secured directly to the slide 82 by means of a capscrew 89. A second capscrew 90 extends through the retainer block 88 and is threaded into the end portion 92 of the spindle retainer shoe 84. Also extending through the retainer block 88 and into the portion 92 of the shoe 84 is a setscrew 94 (FIG. 9) by means of which line longitudinal adjustment may be attained. In adjusting the longitudinal position of the shoe 84, the capscrews and the capscrew are loosened and then the setscrew 94 is tightened until the precise longitudinal position is achieved. Then the capscrews are again tightened and the assembly is ready for operation. As so conditioned, the shoe 84 moves with the slide 82 as it traverses the slideway 80. Considering FIG. 9 with FIG. 1, it will be noted that as cam follower 54 traverses the cam track 52 it produces the traversing movement of the slide 82, the cam follower 54 being carried on a portion 98 of the slide that moves along a slot 99 in the turret 20.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the spindle 100 on which each beading roll is carried is journaled within a spindle sleeve 102 from which are laterally extended hinge elements 104 which are pivotally mounted on shaft 105 journaled in complementary hinge elements 106 which are carried on the slide 82. An extension 108 on the spindle sleeve 102 receives a bolt 109 extending therethrough from the shoe 84 and carries a compression spring 110 to provide a resilient mounting for the beading rolls 40 and 40a. Thus, the rolls 40 and 40a are urged against the complementary die 44 to form a bead in the can body, but the beading rolls are permitted to yield as they pass over a longitudinal seam in the can body.

Summarizing the operation of the machine for heading, cans are delivered by the input star wheel 18 to the gauge blocks 21 on the rotating turret 20 (FIG. 2). As the cans are being fed into this position, the control cam follower 54 is at the low extremity 52a of the cam track 52 so that the beading rolls 40 and 40a are fully retracted. Then, after the can is positioned between the plates 21a to roll around the beading drum 60, the cam follower moves toward the high portion 52b of the track and the beading rolls 40 and 40a move into the open can ends preparatory to commencement of the beading operation. Then, beading rolls 40 and 40a carry the can body around with the turret 20 into engagement with, and then along,

the arcuate complementary beading die 44 to produce the crimp around the circumference of the can body. Throughout rotation of the turret 20 the wide pinions 46 are engaged with the stationary ring gears 48 to rotate the heading rolls 40 and 40a.

A particular feature of this invention resides in the adaptability of the machine to be transformed readily from a beading machine to a parting machine, i.e., one that cuts a long can body into two or more smaller can bodies. When the machine is changed over from a can beading operation to one adapted for parting cans, the same spindle slide 82 is retained, but the fixture mounted thereon is replaced by removing the capscrews 85 shown in FIG. 1 and replacing the beading unit with the cutting unit shown in FIGS. 4, Sand 7. The cutting unit is mounted on a spindle retainer shoe that fits on to the spindle mounting slide 82 and is bolted in place by the same capscrews 85. The means for adjusting the longitudinal position of the retainer shoe 120 for the cutting unit is the same as for the heading unit including the retainer block 88 and the capscrew 90. Again, as in the beader assembly, a pair of spindles 122 and 124 are rotatably carried in spindle bearing sleeves 126 and driven by a wide pinion 128 engaging with the stationary ring gear 48 fixed to the machine frame 11. In this case, the

spindles 122 and 124 carry the inner parting cutter which is adapted to cut from inside a can body carried between can support plates 21b adapted for use with the parter. In the embodiment shown, the inner parting cutter 130 is mounted on one of the spindles 122 and locked in place between a retainer sleeve 132 and a female spindle cap 133 secured to the end of the spindle 122 by a capscrew 134 or the like. A male spindle cap 136 that is secured on to the end of spindle 124 by capscrew 137 interlocks with the female spindle cap 133 of the other spindle in order to insure that the spindles are perfectly centered during the parting operation.

The outside parting cutter 140 is mounted on a spindle 142 rotatable within a bearing sleeve 144 which is also carried on the slide 82 on the left side of the machine in FIG. 4. The outside parting cutter is locked in place on the spindle 142 by means of a mounting sleeve 145 and a female lock cap 146 which is secured to the end of spindle 142 by means of a capscrew 147. On the associated spindle 148 on the right side of the machine 10 in FIG. 4, a male lock cap 150 is provided in order to insure proper centering during the parting operation. The outside parting cutter 140 is not driven but will rotate from the driven inside cutter 130 and, more specifically, from the rubber drive ring 152 which is mounted adjacent to the inside parting cutter (FIG. 6).

Referring to FIG. 7, the outside cutter 140 including the spindle sleeve within which it is rotated, is carried on arms 154 which are clamped to the shaft 155 by means of capscrews 156 (FIG. 4). The shaft 155 is, in turn, rotatably mounted in the journals 157 carried on the parting unit mounting shoe 120. A pair of thrust bearings 158 and 159 carried on the shaft 155 act between a shoulder on the shaft and a pair of nuts 160 which are adjustably threaded on to the end of the pivot shaft 155, so that there is no end play on the outer parting cutter 140. Thus, it will be apparent that, with the pivotal mounting of the spindle bearing 144 the outside parting cutter 140 may be pivoted toward the inner parting cutter to the position shown in FIG. 6 wherein the cutters shear the can body. A compression spring 162 carried on rod 163 extending between the shoe 120 and the pivotally mounted arm 154 supporting the spindle bearing 144 normally urges the outer cutting knife 140 away from the inner cutter 130.

The actuating means for the parting cutters comprises a cam roller follower (FIGS. 5 and 7) which is mounted on a shaft 172 rotatably carried on the extension 154 which, as has been described, is pivotally mounted on the hinge shaft 158, as shown most clearly in FIG. 6. The shaft 172 is preferably eccentrically mounted and is provided at one end with a square cross-section 174 so that the shaft can be turned with a wrench for proper setting on the parting cutter. The cam roller 170 is secured to the other end of the shaft 172 by means of washer 175 which is held in place by a capscrew 176.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is provided in cooperation with the cam roller 170 a cam member which is mounted in a saddle 182 on the frame of the machine and clamped in place by lock shoes 184 secured to the saddle by capscrews 195. The cam-supporting saddle 182 is secured to the frame by means of mounting rings 187 and 188 which are secured by means of capscrews 189 to tie rods 190 and 191 forming a part of the machine structure.

Thus, it will be seen that as the turret 20 carries the slide 82 and the parting cutters thereon through its cycle the cam roller 170 engages the cam 180 at the point 180a to pivot the arm 154 and, hence, outside cutter 140, toward the inside cutter 130 to commence cutting through a can body carried on the inside cutter 130. The inside and outside cutters 130 and 140 mesh in close shearing action with the sides of both cutters preferably being tapered inwardly in the order of 5 as shown in FIG. 6, in order to minimize wear. The outside cutter is driven by pressing against the friction ring 152 adjacent to the inside cutter 130. When the cam follower 170 completes its traversal of the arcuate cam bar 180, the compression spring 162. (FIG. 7) separates the inside and outside cutters so that the can body may be removed. During the operative association of the inner and outer parting cutters, wherein the rotation of the inner cutter is imparted to the outer cutter, the can cutters roll the can body .between them..

Summarizing the operation of the machine for parting can bodies, the shoe 120 carrying the spindle sleeves 126 and 144 for the inner and outer parting cutters is first positioned on the slide 182, as shown in FIG. 5. Then, the capscrews 93 are loosened and the capscrews 94 are adjusted -to position the shoe 120 longitudinally and, ,hence, to adjust the position of the inner and outer parting cutters with respect to the length of the can body C. Then, the machine is started and, as the slide 82 is carried around with the turret 20, the wide pinions 128 at the ends of the spindles 122 and 124 roll around the stationary ring. gear 48 whereby rotation is imparted to the inside parting cutters 130. Then, as rotation of the drum progresses, the cam follower 54 traverses the track 52 to force the male and female caps 133 and 136 on the spindles 122 and 124 into mutual engagement through the open ends of the can body. Thereafter, the can body is carried idly on the inside cutter 130 until the cam roller 170 engages the .arcuate cam 180 on the frame of the machine, and the arm 154 carrying the outer parting cutter spindle sleeve 144 is pivoted to force the outer parting cutter 140 into engagement with the inner parting cutter 130, or, more specifically, with the friction sleeve .152 adjacent the inner parting cutter. This commences severance of the can body and the rotation of the inner parting cutter is imparted to the outer parting cutter so that the can body is rolled between them until severance is complete. Finally, the control cam follower 54 moves to the low point on the track 52 and the spindles 122 and 124 are separated and the severed can bodies ejected from the machine.

This invention has been discussed in connection with preferred embodiments of the machine in which it is employed but it is to be understood that those skilled in the art may make further changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is to be defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. A machine for performing work on a can body comprising:

a rotatable turret having a slideway thereon disposed parallel to the axis thereof,

a slide mounted for longitudinal movement in said slideway,

a first bearing member removably supported on said slide,

a first work member rotatably mounted in said first bearing member,

means on said first work member adapted to engage and treat the inside of a can body,

means for adjusting the longitudinal position of the said first bearing member on said slide,

releasable means for securing said first bearing member in adjusted position on said slide,

means on said turret forming an annular can-traversing pathway around said axis of said turret,

a cam mechanism operative during rotation of the said turret to reciprocate said slide and carry said first work member into and out of said pathway,

means for rotating said first work member and said first bearing member during rotation of said turret,

a second complementary work member adapted to engage and treat the outside of a can body, and

means extending said complementary second work member toward engagement with said first work member during rotation of said turret after longitudinal movement of said slide.

2. The machine defined in claim 1 including:

. a second bearing member rota-tably carrying said complementary work member,

said second bearing member being pivotally mounted on said slide,

resilient means urging said complementary work member away from said first work member, and

a stationary cam member engaged by said second bearing member during a portion of the rotation of said turret to urge said complementary work member toward said first work member.

3. The machine defined in claim 1 including:

a fixed cam member,

said complementary work member being secured on said fixed cam member to extend toward said first work member during a portion of the rotary travel thereof, and j I resilient means urging said first work member toward said complementary work member.

4. A machine for performing work on a can body comprising:

a rotatable turret having a pair of aligned slideways thereon parallel tot-he axis thereof,

a slide mounted for reciprocal movement in each of said slideways,

one of a pair of first bearing members removably mounted on each of said slides,

a first work member rotatable in one of said first pair of first bearing members having portions thereon adapted to engage and treat the inside of a can body on said turret,

releasable means for securing said one bearing member in adjusted position on said slide, a;

means on said turret forming an annular can-traversing pathway around said axis thereof,

a glide member rotatably mounted in the other of said first pair of bearing members,

I engageable means on said first work member and said guide member,

. cam mechanism operative during rotation of said turret for reciprocating said slide along said slideways to carry said first work member and said guide member into and out of mutual engagement in said can traversing pathway,

. a second complementary work member adapted to engage and perform work on the outside of a can body, and

means extending said complementary work member toward engagement with said first work member during rotation of said turret after recipricatory movement of said slides.

5. The machine defined in claim 4 including:

a second bearing member rotatably carrying said complementary work member,

said second bearing member being pivotally mounted on said slide,

resilient means urging said complementary work member away from said first work member, and

a stationary cam member engaging said second bearing member during a portion of the rotation of said turret to urge said complementary work member toward said first work member.

6. A machine for performing work on a can body comprising:

a rotatable turret having a slideway thereon parallel to the axis thereof,

a slide mounted for longitudinal movement in said slideway,

a shoe removably mounted on said slide, means for adjusting the longitudinal position of said shoe on said slide,

releasable means for securing said shoe in adjusted position on said slide,

means on said turret forming an annular can-traversing pathway around said axis thereof,

a first rotatable work-member on said shoe adapted to engage and treat the inside of a can body,

a cam mechanism operative during rotation of said turret for reciprocating said slide to carry said first work member into said pathway on said turret,

means for rotating said first work member during rotation of said turret,

a complementary work member adapted to engage and treat the outside of a can body on said turret, and means directing said complementary work member into engagement with said first work member during rotation of said turret.

7. The machine defined in claim 6 including:

a-bearing member rotatably carrying said complementary work member,

said bearing member being pivotally mounted on said slide,

resilient means urging said complementary work member away from said first work member, and v a stationary cam member engaging said bearing member during a portion of the rotation of said turret to urge said complementary work member toward said first work member.

8. The machine defined in claim 6 including:

a fixed cam member,

said complementary work member being secured on said fixed cam member to extend toward said first work member during a portion of the rotary travel thereof, and

resilient means urging said first work member toward said complementary work member.

9. A machine for performing work on a can body comprising:

a rotatable turret having a pair of aligned slideways thereon parallel to the axis thereof,

means on said turret forming an annular can-traversing path around said axis thereof,

' a slide mounted for reciprocal movement in each of said slideways,

a shoe removably mounted on each of said slides,

means for adjusting said shoe longitudinally on said each slide,

releasable means for fixing said shoe in adjusted position on said each slide,

a first work member on one of said shoes adapted to engage and treat the inside of a can body on said turret,

a coaxial guide member on the other of said shoes,

engageable means on said first work member and said guide member,

cam mechanism operative during rotation of said turret for reciprocating said slides along said slideways to carry said first work member and said guide member into and out of mutual engagement in said pathway on said turret,

a complementary work member adapted to engage and perform work on the outside of said can body, and

means carrying said complementary work member toward engagement with said first work member during rotation of said turret after movement of the slide.

10. A machine for parting a can body comprising:

a rotatable turret having a slideway thereon parallel to the axis thereof,

a slide mounted for longitudinal movement in said slideway,

a shoe removably supported on said slide,

releasable means for securing said shoe in adjusted position on said slide,

a pair of bearing members mounted on said shoe for movement toward and away from each other,

a pair of circular knives mounted for rotation in said bearing members,

resilient means urging said bearing members apart,

stationary cam means urging said bearing members together during a portion of the rotation of said turret,

means onsaid turret forming an annular can-traversing pathway around said axis thereof, and

a control cam mechanism operative during rotation of said turret to reciprocate said slide and carry said knives into and out of said pathway respectively before and after operation of said stationary cam means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,686,551 8/54 Laxo 153-2 2,695,582 11/54 Johnson 153-9 2,741,292 4/56 Butters 153-2 2,928,454 3/60 Laxo 15373 CHARLES w. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR PERFORMING WORK ON A CAN BODY COMPRISING: A ROTATABLE TURRET HAVING A SLIDEWAY THEREON DISPOSED PARALLEL TO THE AXIS THEREOF, A SLIDE MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN SAID SLIDEWAY, A FIRST BEARING MEMBER REMOVABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SLIDE, A FIRST WORK MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FIRST BEARING MEMBER, MEANS ON SAID FIRST WORK MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND TREAT THE INSIDE OF A CAN BODY, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE LONGITUDINAL POSITION OF THE SAID FIRST BEARING MEMBER ON SAID SLIDE, RELEASABLE MEANS FOR SECURING SAID FIRST BEARING MEMBER IN ADJUSTED POSITION ON SAID SLIDE, MEANS ON SAID TURRET FORMING AN ANNULAR CAN-TRANVERSING PATHWAY AROUND SAID AXIS OF SAID TURRET, A CAM MECHANISM OPERATIVE DURING ROTATION OF THE SAID TURRET TO RECIPROCATE SAID SLIDE AND CARRY SAID FIRST WORK MEMBER INTO AND OUT OF SAID PATHWAY, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID FIRST WORK MEMBER AND SAID FIRST BEARING MEMBER DURING ROTATION OF SAID TURRET, A SECOND COMPLEMENTARY WORK MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND TREAT THE OUTSIDE OF A CAN BODY, AND MEANS EXTENDING SAID COMPLEMENTARY SECOND WORK MEMBER TOWARD ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST WORK MEMBER DURING ROTATION OF SAID TURRET AFTER LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE. 